Ephesians 6
1 You children, because you (belong to/have a close relationship with) the Lord [Jesus], obey your parents, because it is right [for you to do] that.
Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.
2 God commanded [in the Scriptures], [Greatly] respect your father and mother. That is the first law [that God] commanded in [which he also] promised [something]. [He promised],
“Honour your father and mother” – this is the first Commandment with a promise –
3 [If you do] that, you will prosper, and you will live a long time.
“so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth.”
4 You parents (OR, You fathers), do not treat your children so severely that they become angry. Instead, bring them up well by instructing them and by disciplining them in [the manner that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do].
And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.
5 You slaves, obey those who are [your masters]. Obey them very respectfully and sincerely [DOU], just like you obey Christ.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ;
6 Obey them, not only when they are watching [MTY] you, and not only to cause them to think highly/well of you. Instead, obey them as [though you were] [MET] slaves of Christ, [not slaves of your masters]. Do enthusiastically what God wants [you to do].
not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please people, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.
7 Serve [your masters] zealously/wholeheartedly, as you would serve the Lord [Jesus], not as you would serve [ordinary] people.
Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for people;
8 [Do this because] you know that [some day] the Lord Jesus will reward each person for whatever good [deeds] that person has done. He will reward people who are slaves and people who are not slaves.
for you know that everyone will be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or free.
9 You masters, just like your slaves [should serve you well], you similarly must treat them well. Stop threatening [to beat] them [if they do not do their work well]. Do not forget you and they have the same Lord who is in heaven. [So he is the one who will say to you and your slaves whether he approves of what you and they have done], and [when he judges people], he does not act more favorably [toward some than he acts toward others].
And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank.
10 Finally, at all times rely/depend completely on the Lord [Jesus] to strengthen you [spiritually] by his own mighty power.
For the future, find strength in your union with the Lord, and in the power which comes from his might.
11 [Just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things [to help him fight]) [MET], you should [use every spiritual resource/help that God provides for you], in order that you may successfully resist the devil when he cleverly tries [to oppose you].
Put on the full armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the stratagems of the devil.
12 You must do this because the fighting that we [believers] do is not only against human beings [SYN]. Instead, we are also fighting against evil spirits who rule and have authority over all that is evil [MET] in the world. And we are fighting against evil spirits who are in heavenly places (OR, everywhere). (aiōn g165)
For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various powers of evil that hold sway in the darkness around us, against the spirits of wickedness on high. (aiōn g165)
13 Therefore, [just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things to help him fight) [MET], [use well all the spiritual resources/helps that God provides for you]. Do that in order that you may be able to resist successfully the devil and all his powerful evil spirits [MTY] every time they (attack you/tempt you to sin or cause something bad to happen to you). [Do it also in order that] when you have done all that you can to resist them [when they attack you], you will still be ready to resist them [when they attack you the next time].
Therefore take up the full armour of God, so that when the evil day comes, you may be able to withstand the attack, and, having fought to the end, still to stand your ground.
14 You must be ready to firmly [resist the devil and his evil spirits] [MET], [just like soldiers must be ready to resist the enemy. Prepare for doing that by doing these things]: [To be strong spiritually], hold firmly to [God’s] truth, just like soldiers prepare (to stand firm against/to firmly resist) their enemies by fastening their belts around their waists [MET]. Act righteously [in order to protect yourself against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on breastplates [to protect their chests against their enemies’ attacks] [MET].
Stand your ground, then, with truth for your belt, and with righteousness for your breastplate,
15 Hold fast the good message [that gives us] peace [with God, just like soldiers] put on their boots firmly [MET] (to stand firm [against/] firmly [resist]) [their enemies].
and with the readiness to serve the good news of peace as shoes for your feet.
16 In addition, keep trusting firmly [in the Lord. That will enable you to protect yourselves from anything that Satan], the evil one, [may do to harm you spiritually, just like soldiers] carry shields [to protect themselves against] the arrows that have flaming tips [that their enemies shoot at them] [MET].
At every onslaught take up faith for your shield; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.
17 And [rely/depend on the fact that God] has saved you, [in order to protect yourselves against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on a helmet [to protect] their [heads from attacks by] their [enemies] [MET]. And be ready to use [the weapon that God’s] Spirit [has given you], which is the message of God, [in order to fight against] ([demonic powers/Satan]), [just like soldiers] use their swords [to fight against their enemies] [MET].
And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the message of God – always with prayer and supplication.
18 As you are doing that, keep praying [to God] at all times, and requesting him [to do things for you and others; ] and let God’s Spirit [direct what you pray]. For this purpose, always be [spiritually] alert/watchful, and (always be persistent in/never quit) praying for all God’s people.
Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s people –
19 And [specifically], pray for me. Pray that God will tell me what I should say [MTY] whenever I speak, in order that I may boldly tell others the good message about Christ. People did not know that message before, [but God has now revealed it to me].
and on my behalf also, so that when I begin to speak, words may be given me, so that I may fearlessly make known the inmost truth of the good news,
20 I am (a representative [of Christ]/one who speaks on behalf [of Christ]) [as I tell this message to others, and] I am in prison [MTY] [because of that]. Pray that when I tell [others about Christ], I may speak without being afraid, because that is how I ought to speak.
on behalf of which I am an ambassador – in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.
21 In order that you may know about [what is happening] to me and what I am doing, I am sending Tychicus [to you with this letter]. He will tell you everything [that is happening here]. He is a fellow believer whom we all [(inc)] love very much, and he serves the Lord [Jesus] faithfully.
To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear friend and faithful helper in the Master’s cause, will tell you everything.
22 That is the reason that I am sending him [to you]; I want you to know (how my companions and I are/what is happening to my companions and me), and I want him to encourage you [SYN].
I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.
23 [I pray that] God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will cause all of you fellow believers to have [inner] peace, and [enable you to] love [each other] and to continue trusting [in Christ].
May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give every follower peace, and love linked with faith.
24 I pray that God will continue to act kindly to [you and] to all [others] who love our Lord Jesus Christ and will never quit loving him.
May God’s blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
